Improvement in scythes



C. M. HODGES..

Scythe.

Patented Aug. 21,' 1866.

N. 2151s. www ummm.. wmmmn. uc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. HODGES, OF MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF, WILLARI) O. OAPRON, AND NAIHL. vW'HITMORE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCYTHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,'440, dated August 21, 1866.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. HoDGES, of Mansfield,v in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Scythcs, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making" part of this Specification, in which- Figure l is an elevation of one Side of a Scythe constructed on my improved plan. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion of the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a section on the line vw of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line y y of Fig. l.

' Scythes as ordinarily made are rolled or forged with a groove on one side, so as to lighten them and at the same time leave a stiff back' and a thin cutting-edge. Considerable difiiculty has, however, been experienced in tempering scythes, their varying thickness rendering it impossible to obtain the required temper forthe cutting portion and for the back and when the Scythe is made with a steel cutting portion welded onto an iron back the edge, when worn and ground down, frequently exposes the iron, which will not form a cuttingedge.

Y My invention has for its object to overcome these difficulties; and in my improved Scythe the blade or cutting portion and the back are made in separate pieces and are afterward secured together, by which construction the blade can be tempered before being secured to 'the back, which may be consequently made much harder and a lighter and stiffer Scythe thus be produced than where it is made in one piece, as heretofore, and a better temper be given to the blade on account of its uniform thickness, while, when the blade is worn or used up, it can be removed from the back and replaced by another at a much less cost than that of a new Scythe. f

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A is the blade of the Scythe, which is made of steel and of uniform thickness.

B is a steel back or holder, which is made iu two pieces, 5 and 6, the portiou being bent down to form the shank a, which fits into the snath.

The cutting-blade A is secured between the i two pieces 5 and 6 of the back by means of screws b, the end of the piece 6 fitting snugly against the shoulder c of the piece 5, as seen iu Figs. 2 and 4.

Instead of holes in the blade Afor the screws Z1 to pass through, as usually made, I make open Slots, as seen dotted in red, Fig. 2, so that the blade can be removed from the back by simply loosening the screws without taking them out. n

Among the advantages which result from constructing a Scythe as above described may be enumerated the following: First, the blade, being entirely of steel and of uniform thickness, may be Iliade of an even temper througlr out, so that it will wear evenly until used up; second, by tempering the blade and the back or holder separately, the back may be made much harder than where the whole Scythe is made in one piece, thus admittingof its being made stiffer with a less weight of metal third, it is much cheaper, as when the blade is worn or used up it can be readily removed and replaced by a new one, the cost of which is much less than a new Scythe, and the back or holder may be used for an indefinite number of blades.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to Secure by Letters Patent, is-

A Scythe in which the blade or cutting portion A and the back or holder B are made in Separate pieces and secured together by screws which pass through holes in the two back pieces and open Slots in the blade, as set forth.

CHARLES M. HODGES.

Witnesses:

WM. ROBINSON, N. GILBERT WHITMORE. 

